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NEW BEDDING ADDITIVE OFFERS IMPROVED BACTERIA CONTROL

A new livestock bedding conditioner offering improved bacterial control properties and exceptional moisture absorption ability has been launched by animal nutrition and hygiene specialist C&H Nutrition.

Dri Li Extra is a natural product based on calcified seaweed. The new formulation is a significant improvement over the previous Dri Li Plus formulation with independent laboratory tests highlighting its effectiveness against Strep. uberis, Staph. aureus and E.coli – three of the key dairy cow mastitis-causing bacteria. Ingredients in the new product meet the requirements of the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD), the company says.

“In addition to its biocidal properties, the honeycombed physical structure of the calcified seaweed creates an exceptionally large surface area for moisture absorption, which helps promote a drier, more hygienic and comfortable housed animal environment, “ says Ruth Carter from C&H Nutrition.

The company is now urging dairy farmers in particular to review planned cubicle hygiene procedures before housing in the autumn.

“Choosing what bedding to use in your cubicles is an important enough decision in itself, but so is the choice of bedding conditioner. And with environmental mastitis pathogens so prevalent, always look for proven data on bacterial control rates when evaluating the claims of competing products. Product ingredients should also meet requirements of the BPD,” Ruth Carter says.

“The type of bedding you use can have a dramatic effect on overall unit hygiene and mastitis-infection rates. Straw tends to be associated with Strep.uberis problems, whilst sawdust seems to increase the likelihood of E.coli infection. Both materials are organic and provide an ideal breeding ground for mastitis-causing bacteria. In fact, studies have shown that sawdust and wood shavings can become rapidly contaminated with up to 1000 million bacteria per gram after bedding down. Damp conditions too, aid the movement of faeces onto the udders and help the bacteria to thrive,” she warns.

“Proven bedding conditioners like Dri-Li Extra are also gentler on udders, unlike lime, as well as having independent data showing both their moisture absorbancy potential and, most importantly, bacterial control rates. The faster bacteria like Strep. .uberis, E.coli and Staph. aureus are knocked out, the more likely your cubicle hygiene management regime will pay off in terms of lower somatic cell counts and healthier, more comfortable cows,” she stresses.

As a further benefit, Dri Li Extra will also help eliminate ammonia and control odours in livestock housing. It is suitable for use as a bedding conditioner in cow cubicles, lambing and pig pens, horse stables and poultry housing. On farm price is expected to be around £680/tonne.

MASTITIS WARNING FROM DAMP STRAW

Milk producers looking to minimise mastitis problems this winter must counter the hygiene threat from damp straw bedding.

“Plenty of straw has still been baled damp this year – potentially promoting a favourable environment for the multiplication of harmful mastitis-causing bacteria such as Strep. uberis and E.coli,” points out Dr Alan Reeve from C&H Nutrition.

“Mastitis caused by environmental bacteria is frequently associated with damp and dirty bedding, as well as inadequate ventilation in the cow accommodation,” he says.

“Traditional cattle bedding materials in the UK such as straw, sawdust or waste paper improve comfort levels for cows, but research has shown that they also create the perfect warm, moist conditions for harmful bugs to thrive. In addition, damp bedding also aids the movement of faeces onto the udder and this promotes a favourable environment for mastitis bacteria.”

However, Dr Reeve says cow health and comfort can be significantly improved by using a particularly absorbent bedding conditioner with added disinfectant at housing. And he strongly advocates the use of bespoke bedding conditioner products over cheaper alternatives such as lime.

“Lime is often used to absorb moisture in cubicles and although as an alkali it does have some bacterial kill properties, it is also an irritant to udders,” he points out.

“On the other hand, specialist bedding conditioner products are much gentler on the udder. Dri Li Plus, in particular, has independent data showing significant moisture absorbency potential and, most importantly, proven bacterial kill rates. And the faster bacteria like E.coli and S. uberis are knocked out in the housed environment, the more likely your cubicle management regime will pay off in terms of lower somatic cell counts and healthier, more comfortable cows,” he says.

NEW UK AGENT APPOINTED FOR INNOVATIVE FEED MOISTURE MANAGEMENT PACKAGE

C&H Nutrition has become the UK distributor for the unique on-line moisture sensoring system and product dosing package that manufacturer Adiveter claims can optimise feed pelleting efficiency and reduce energy consumption. C&H Nutrition sister company Brown and Gilmer becomes the Adiveter agent in Ireland.

Central to the success of the package is the innovative wetting agent Re-Hydra Pro, which Adiveter has developed to prevent moisture loss during the pelleting or extruding process.

According to Adiveter European sales manager Rein Derksen, correct application of Re-Hydra Pro allows feed compounders to optimise end product quality and production efficiency through the use of a complete feed moisture management system.

“Re-Hydra Pro is dark blue liquid containing mono and diglycerides that reduce the surface tension of water.  The product also incorporates a combination of organic acids that inhibit fungal and bacterial growth, which means feed manufactures can achieve a much more effective feed moisture balance,” he points out.

“What’s more, the on-line moisture sensor and specially designed dosing equipment integral to the system ensure that the optimum level of Re-Hydra Pro is always added. And a strong hands-on commitment to ensuring the system meets manufacturer objectives is at the heart of our service.”

Commenting on the new marketing agreement, C&H Nutrition business development manager Dr Alan Reeve said he had been impressed with the international trial data from feed mills in Spain and South America.

“After installing the Adiveter system, a number of both feed and pet food manufacturers are reporting moisture retention improvements in their end product, whilst at the same time inhibiting mould growth. Reductions in energy consumption are also being achieved, which is extremely attractive in the current climate,” he said.

“With feed raw material prices escalating and alternative ingredient options always being sought to mitigate potential price increases, we believe this system offers feed manufacturers exciting opportunities to be flexible without necessarily compromising pellet quality or mill throughput.”

Further information on the Adiveter feed moisture management system is available from Dr Alan Reeve at C&H Nutrition on 01928 793090.

FINE-TUNING DAIRY RATIONS AT GRASS
 
Dairy farmers looking to counter a seasonal dip in milk butterfat level after turnout should concentrate on improving the feed fat profile of the milking cow ration and effective rumen buffering.
 
That's the advice from ruminant nutritionist Dr Alan Reeve from C&H Nutrition, who says that milk butterfat percentage falls by around 0.3 percentage points on average after turnout, but the drop can even more significant on some farms.
 
"If you are paid a premium for butterfat, it's important that you counter this traditional seasonal dip by fine-tuning the lactating ration," he says.
 
Dr Reeve recommends improving the fat profile of the ration. "Butterfat uplifts of around 0.3-0.4% have been consistently reported when a high C16 fat such as Energizer-RP10 is fed at 400g/head/day. Producers can also typically expect an extra litre of milk," he says.
 
Dr Reeve points out that once cows move onto lush green grass, the long fibre content of the ration drops. At the same time, the high sugar content of freshly grazed spring grass makes the rumen more acidic and both these factors combine to reduce milk butterfat level.
 
"Failure to maintain optimum rumen pH in cows at grass is a major drag on performance," he points out. "The rumen works at optimum efficiency when the pH level remains steady over time in the range 6.0-6.5. Any variation in this range will reduce the activity of the rumen bacteria, particularly those responsible for fibre breakdown and butterfat production will be adversely affected." He suggests producers talk to their nutritional adviser about the buffering capacity of the whole ration and to consider supplementing early summer grazing diets with an effective rumen buffer, such as Alkakarb, if required.

NEW SLURRY ADDITIVE CAN CUT FERTILISER BILL
 
The ability to boost manure nitrogen content by 6kg/cow/year and cut the fertiliser bill by over £5/cow is the significant benefit from a new, natural mineral-based product that can be added directly to slurry.
 
Viscolight is a powder-based additive with the potential to increase slurry nitrogen by 300g/tonne. It will also improve manure handling considerably, claims UK distributor C&H Nutrition.
 
"Viscolight breaks down hard crusts and improves slurry nitrogen content by slackening and binding free ammonia. The end result is a higher value fertiliser and more homogeneous slurry that flows better making it much easier to handle," says product manager Jessica Hassall.
 
"As well as promoting a more fluid mix of sediment and floating layers in the slurry storage tank - cutting the time and diesel costs of agitation, pumping and spreading - the natural additive will also reduce manure and dirty water odour by up to 50%."
 
Jessica Hassall says Viscolight can be easily added to the slurry - either via the reception pit, channels or slats, or directly into the lagoon or storage tower. "The mixing rate is as little as 20g/tonne of slurry, which for a 100 cow herd equates to an annual product requirement of only 40kg per year. "
 
C&H Nutrition calculates that even after the cost of Viscolight, a 100 cow herd can expect to be around £250 better off as a result of savings on the fertiliser bill. New to the UK - but widely used successfully in Denmark where it is also approved for use on organic farms - Viscolight is available through the agricultural merchant trade and further details are available on 01928 793090.